ancient capital of the world

Ancient capital of the world Once back from the isle of Hoy we decided we would visit the standing stones of stenness and the ring of Brodgar, this was where the whole druids Neolithic standing stones stuff all began seven thousand years ago the climate was different and the people that lived here, I like to think of them as my ancient ancestors were the most advanced humans on earth these stones were a thousand years before Stonehenge two thousand years before the pyramids,

Its truly hard to get a grasp on what our ancestors were like then? throughout the whole world? When I think of the people who made these standing stones, I try to look inside the heads and think how many questions must they have had? They built these stones knowing when the sun and moon would pass certain parts in their annual celestial journey, but wouldn’t know why or what was our planets relationship to our moon and sun,

We had a good feed back at Sheila’s van instead of eating out, then had a pleasant walk into town for beers at the ferry inn, I later heard someone was bitching about the prices of the food on their facebook page! Which was maybe fair enough, a fiver for a pint and £15 for fish and chips and almost as much for the vegan option of cauliflower, we were just mega grateful to be oot we weren’t caring, even though we were bloody frozen cold in oor wee tented bench, it was great to be having draught ale in a glass for me

Up the coast from stromness is skara brae this is a must see and thankfully reopened, you can get a walk round about by appointment only, this was like the time I cycled the length of Ireland Sheila drove the van while I cycled panier free, when I had cycled to the visitors car park for skara brae, Sheila said there’s been an issue I can book a visitors time but the system wont accept my payment! This issue turned out to be the same with all council ran establishments like the campsites! That was our next issue

Skara brae was a wonderful site I loved it, right from the initial walk out, BIG intro here! You are going a walk back in time! As you went up the path moments of history had plaques landing on the moon/Jesus’s birth/ the pyramids/ the Parthenon / king Solomon’s temple/ then a bit further on skara brae ancient village, for me it was a mind opening experience I loved it and learned a lot, the mystery of why it was abandoned I still ponder weeks later

In complete and utter contrast to the ancient world, the entry ticket to Skara brae also gave entrance to skail house, which is a stately home with an almost Victorian feel to it, very interesting history much more about military service queen and empire stuff, the lord who lived there owned the beautiful skara beach where the ancient village was discovered Cycling on up the coast we had arranged to meet at the orkney brewery, which was sadly shut, couldn’t organize a piss up at a brewery is an old Scottish saying for a disorganized person! Was that me this day?

When I arrived at the Birsay camp sitw where we would be staying Sheila was disappointed with its location and facilities, in the end it turned out totally fine but had we known we would probably have chosen to just camp out up the beach front,

The kitchener memorial just outside Bressay up on an impressive sea clff was an eye opener, what a big monument again a shame it was closed but well worth the visit to see the scale of it and location. Kitchener was a huge influence on war time Britain for those that don’t known he is the mastachioued fella with the pointy finger saying your country needs you, his military achievements were imnpressive, he was born in Ireland and died justy of the coast here when HMS Hampshire that he was travelling in after secret talks with Russia struck a German mine, I heard a rumour from a local that they could have rescued many of the crew but the govt stopped a rescue due to the secrets that were being carried?

The cliffs around the memorial were also impressive tnere was some twitchers out but it was a week to early, if we were there the next week the puffins would have arrived and many more mating birds

The town of Birsay itself is a wonderful small village unbelievably loaded in history scenery and community. Where to start? There are the majestic ruins of a once large palace. There is the town beach and shop, the shop sells the local bere meal flour made in the local Barony water powered mill it`s said to be fantastic, the shop was shut but in town there is an honesty cupboard with stacks of local produce to buy (Sheila loved this) just outside town is a house called Zanzibar which featured in a series of the TV program top gear where a letter was posted to this house here from London and the presenters tried to beat the letter,

Further along the coast walking distance from town, but we drove and parked in the spacious car park that was better than our camp site! we were hoping to walk out to the tidal island and see the famous broch, but just missed low tide! It was a pleasant walk round to see the whale bone and an old fishing hut which had a big keep out sign that I ignored,

Groatie Buckies!-? said to be Scotland’s oldest craft! making strings of these sea shells, there is lots of folklore around them on Shetland-Orkney and Caithness, traditions range from saying have one in your purse, it will bring you wealth taking too many will do the opposite and all other sort of stuff!! We went hunting these shells on the beach at Birsay for the groatie buckie shells, a waste of well over an hour for me as I found none, Sheila found one I have no issue with admitting I was jealous and considered stealing it! I also went on to waste another hour of my life looking for them again on a beach at john o graoats ma purse is still empty! (top tip don’t start looking it draws you in)

There was a local Inn/ bar/ restaurant we were hoping would be open but was sadly shut, the only bonus of that was I then drank a cup of spring water from a well relating to saint magnus, that water miraculously disappeared oot ma cup to make way for beer